Gwinnett Man Begins Business to Prevent BUIs on Lake Lanier

A Suwanee man has launched a boating business on Lake Lanier that will, among other things, pilot your boat to safety if you've had one too many on the water.

Jeff Perfater, of a Settles Bridge Road address, says SafeNAV will "tie off and pilot your boat back to your home marina ... no questions, no hassle, no embarrassment and best of all... "NO BUI.".

The "Lake Lanier BUI Buster" fee: $125.

The home-based business received its license from the City of Suwanee on May 22. On the website, Perfater says he is "a USCG licensed 100 Ton Master Captain ... . He has had a life long interest in boats of all shapes and sizes."

Over Memorial Day weekend 2013, there were 10 BUI arrests on the lake, authorities said.

Lake authorities likely will be more vigilant about BUI regulations this year, as the state's BUI limit has been lowered to 0.08. Increased attention to the lake's BUI problem came after the June 2012 deaths of brothers Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford in a boating collision. Paul Bennett of Cumming faces BUI charges in Hall County in connection with the accident.

SafeNAV also provides private charter and vessel relocation services.

Perfater told WSB-TV that he was inspired to start the business by the Prince brothers' deaths.

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